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From: staylor@snidely.UUCP (Scott G. Taylor)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd
Subject: Controller manufacturers (was Re:Colorado Memory Systems)
Message-ID: <147@snidely.UUCP>
Date: 4 Sep 92 05:59:14 GMT
References: <h!mn#wj.hasty@netcom.com>
Lines: 62
in article <h!mn#wj.hasty@netcom.com>, Amancio Hasty Jr wrote:
> In article <1992Sep2.134522.13938@digi.lonestar.org> mfrohman@digi.lonestar.org (Matthew Frohman) writes:
>>Has anyone tried to use the DJ-20 from Colorado Memory
>>Systems under 386BSD? I talked to their technical support
>>and they said they have only tested the software under
>>SYS V implementations of Unix. Anyone used it under BSD?
>
> Also, you may add that they will not release any technical information
> on their interface!
Colorado Memory Systems people are not special in this respect. I have yet
to find a tape drive controller manufacturer who will even discuss the
programming of their tape drive controllers. Do these people believe
they have God's Gift to tape drives, and to release *ANY* information
would jeopardize their niche?
These companies are not in the software business. Most of them simply
tell you that "[brand X commercial Unix] already has a driver," and
continue to insist that either the driver included with the controller
or the commercial Unix is all that you need.
The Colorado tech support staff seemed to know nothing about their
own equipment, except to follow "procedures" for support calls. The
guy I spoke with kept insisting I check the configuration, basically
ignoring anything I said. For all he knew, I could have been calling
for support for an automatic breadmaker!
Overland Data would distribute a sample program (if you *REALLY* bugged
and begged them for it). However, the program was undocumented and
completely unsupported. *Any* attempt to inquire on the controller
or sample program's operation were dealt with extremely terse rudeness.
I have added them to my favorite list of companies not to patronize.
I have resorted to SCSI tapes. It is really too bad, since all those
non-SCSI tapes drives are much cheaper than anything SCSI.
And for anyone with other than an Adaptec 1542B controller, *NO*,
it is not compatible. 386BSD will have to wait for someone
to port or write a driver for it. Future Domain
will sell you a Developer's kit for their controllers, but I will
wait for someone else to fork out the bucks for that.
It seems to me that all these companies try to sell their product
through the availability of their software on a given platform.
Don't they understand that they should sell their HARDWARD by
making it easily integratable into *ANY* platform? Why does
Adaptec charge *MORE* money to get enhanced drivers for their
controllers--and it is difficult to find someone with a
bare-board package in stock.
These companies should sell their Hardware, and make every effort
to make it work under ALL platforms if they really knew how to
work commerce.
-scott
--
Scott G. Akmentins-Taylor InterNet: staylor@snidely.pmdr.wlv.ca.us
MRY Systems staylor@cerfnet.com
UUCP: snidely!staylor
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